Odisha govt’s advisory to tackle possible locust invasion
BHUBANESWAR: In view of the locust invasion in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, agriculture minister Arun Kumar Sahoo on Wednesday appealed farmers of the state to take precautions if locusts enter into their farms.
“We anticipate that locusts may come to Odisha. But there is no reason to fear as the state government and the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) have already issued advisory to prevent the locust attack,” said the minister.
Sahoo said the desert locusts, which belong to grasshopper family, are seen in East Africa. These insects eat crops and green part of the trees. “Good rain in East Africa helped in locust breeding and increasing it’s population. These insects have entered Iran, Pakistan and then India. Now the locusts have entered Madhya Pradesh. We also apprehend it may come to Odisha,” he added.
He said Odisha has not witnessed locust attack during last several years. “We also want the swarms of the locusts should not enter Odisha. But we should stay alert and prepared to tackle this problem,” he added.
Sahoo advised the farmers to spray 200 litres of solution of five per cent neem seed kernel extract (5% NSKE) per acre during the afternoon time to prevent the attack from these insects. They can also prepare a solution by adding 300PPM neem insecticide in 200 litres of water and spray on the crop to protect it from locusts, he added.
OUAT has also issued advisory for farmers on this issue. Besides the neem-based treatment method, it advised the peasants to beat tin cans to drive the locusts away. People can also beat the locusts by using thorny branches to keep the inspects at bay, it added.
“People can spread polythene sheets under the tree captured by locusts during the evening time and shake the tree so that the insects will fall on the sheets. Collect these locusts and put them in kerosene-mixed water to kill them,” said the OUAT advisory.
The university sources said the farmers can spray neem-based insecticide on the affected crop. One professor said the swarms of locusts may create problem for vegetable and horticulture crops in the state if it enters. The government should stay alert to tackle the situation and take steps not to allow the insects to breed here.